2of 7AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Jacob Park #10 of the Iowa State Cyclones is sacked by linebacker Malik Jefferson #46 of the Texas Longhorns as he scrambled for yards in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 28, 2017 in Ames, Iowa.Photo: David Purdy, Getty Images

3of 7Texas running back Chris Warren III, center, celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown against Iowa State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Photo: Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

4of 7AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 28: Running back Chris Warren III #25 of the Texas Longhorns drives the ball into the end zone as defensive back Reggie Wilkerson #3, and linebacker Marcel Spears Jr. #42 of the Iowa State Cyclones defend in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 28, 2017 in Ames, Iowa.Photo: David Purdy, Getty Images

5of 7Iowa State running back David Montgomery (32) is sent to the turf by Texas defensive back Brandon Jones (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Photo: Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press

6of 7AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 28: Running back Toneil Carter #30 of the Texas Longhorns pulls in a touchdown pass over linebacker Joel Lanning #7 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 28, 2017 in Ames, Iowa.Photo: David Purdy, Getty Images

7of 7AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 28: Wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey #84 of the Texas Longhorns its tackled by defensive back Evrett Edwards #4, and defensive back De'Monte Ruth #6 of the Iowa State Cyclones as he rushed for yards in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 28, 2017 in Ames, Iowa.Photo: David Purdy, Getty Images

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State's entrance was certainly befitting of a program to be reckoned with.

Dazzling new helmets featured a cardinal-colored tornado. Matching pyrotechnics launched from the upper rim of Jack Trice Stadium. Flames sprouted from a row of pillars and a "severe weather warning" was issued for Texas and its fans.

They looked the part through and through.

But the Cyclones' entrance – which would have fit right in at, say, WrestleMania – turned out to be the highlight of their night.

"Really proud of our team's effort, intensity, accountability," Herman said. "You could tell that was a team out there playing for each other and not playing for themselves. Thought obviously that the defensive performance was phenomenal. To hold a team to 10 yards on the ground and get the turnovers and fourth-down stops that we did in their stadium is pretty impressive."

The first Big 12 triumph of the Herman era was indeed sparked by another stellar defensive effort.

The Cyclones (2-2, 0-1) entered the game averaging 460 yards and 41.3 points per game; they finished with 256 and were blanked for nearly 43 minutes. Jacob Park, one of the nation's top-rated quarterbacks, struggled in adapting to coordinator Todd Orlando's erratic schemes.

Park was sacked four times and threw three interceptions, two directly into DeShon Elliott's hands. Kris Boyd nabbed the other.

"They learned a very valuable – very costly, but very valuable –lesson in that Maryland game," Herman said. "You can't play great defense if you're evaluating, if you're thinking and if you're gauging or tip-toeing. You've got to stick your foot in the ground and go and trust that the other 10 guys are going to be there right behind you. Our defense for the last three weeks has been doing that."

Sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele reclaimed his starting spot from freshman Sam Ehlinger and was solid, if unspectacular. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 171 yards with one touchdown and one interception and added 42 rushing yards.

Buechele

Video: NMoyle@express-news.net / mysanantonio.com

"I missed it," said Buechele, who missed two games with an injured throwing shoulder. "I missed being on the field with my brothers. It was really fun out there. Offensively we just have to get a lot better, but overall I was really excited to get back on the field."

UT made good on its promise to reinvest in the run game despite the loss of left tackle Connor Williams, handing off to Chris Warren five times on its first drive. He rumbled for 24 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown, outdoing his four-carry, 15-yard performance against USC in the game's first seven minutes.

Freshman tailback Toneil Carter was responsible for UT's other first-half score. He beat linebacker (and former quarterback) Joel Lanning up the gut on a 22-yard touchdown reception, pushing the lead to 14-0.

It took a quick three-and-out and a horribly –unusually – shanked 17-yard punt by Michael Dickson to finally rouse the Cyclones' offense.

But ISU's inability to maintain drives – it converted just 3 of 12 third-down tries and failed on two fourth-down attempts –prevented the Cyclones from truly threatening again.

"They're really good on defense," Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said. "They brought a lot of pressure in the first half of the game and how more guys on the line of scrimmage than there were blockers. It can put you in a tough situation."

Kicker Josh Rowland gave UT all the cushion it needed when he struck a 49-yard line drive through the uprights with 13:25 remaining in the contest.

Zach Shack

Video: NMoyle@express-news.net / mysanantonio.com

Herman said there would be "no taking of this football team lightly," given the Longhorns' recent woes in Ames. They were shutout in 2015 and escaped with a 31-30 victory in 2013.

With freshman and former Reagan standout Derek Kerstetter earning the start at right tackle, the Longhorns strung together a game-ending 13-play drive that ate up the game's final 7 minutes and 35 seconds. Every single play call was a designed run.

"We're going to celebrate this win," Herman said. "Winning college football games is really hard. Really hard. And winning on the road in conference on a Thursday night is even harder. We're going to celebrate it tonight. We're going to wake up and go to class tomorrow. We're going to relax on Saturday and on Sunday we're going to come in and go to work to go 1-0 again next week."